Murphy’s Tavern

Though Murphy’s Tavern has changed hands many times over its long history, it continues to be a community gathering place for the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia. No trip to Roxborough is complete without the pleasant if gastronomically challenging one-two punch of a visit to nearby, highly-regarded cheesesteak outpost Dalessandro’s and a post-meal stop at Murphy’s Tavern to wash away a bit of delicious regret.

A precise opening date is not readily apparent, though informal mentions of Murphy’s Tavern online mention visits across multiple decades, speaking to the longevity of the bar. In keeping with this oral history of the space, the phrase “gathering spot for generations” is used by the bar to describe itself. The bar’s location at the corner of a high visibility Roxborough intersection fits this narrative, as does the towering green sign inscribed with the name of the bar attached to the side of the building.

Recent Murphy’s Tavern history starts with a 2011 sale to Bob Bear and partners Christ Markham & Chuck Ercole that triggered a sweep of general renovations intended to tone down the dive bar nature of the business in favor of a more general neighborhood pub-style vibe. A previous fried food-heavy menu was swapped out in favor of the pizza-based menu popular today. Additionally, seating was reimagined, converting a set of booths into more free-flowing space filled in with high-top tables (since replaced with low tables and chairs).

In addition to the bar’s interior updates, an outdoor patio was installed as well, adding both an exterior drinking location and a fresh floor plan allowing more natural light inside the bar (whether this is a good or bad thing is in the eye of the beholder). Thankfully, the long bank of opaque glass blocks was left intact, preserving a signature dive bar element to the space despite updates intended to broaden the Murphy’s Tavern appeal.

The Murphy’s Tavern interior is as straightforward as any good Philadelphia dive bar, a long bar running along one wall with enough room for a set of stools and a line of low tables. Chalkboards mounted behind the bar describe the draft beer selection and any seasonal drink specials. In back, a few gaming machines surround an electronic dart board. Decorations here are kept to a minimum, though a handful of sports trophies can be found perched along the glass block window ledges.

Pizza is no doubt the marquee food attraction here, though the wings are similarly well-loved. Weekly theme nights cut the prices of both items, pizzas running an eye-catching $6.50 on Thursdays while wings run just $0.50 a piece on Wednesdays. A few hamburger and appetizer varieties are also available here, with the notable inclusion of East Coast-friendly Old Bay french fries.